THE newly-promoted Adders showed bags of fighting spirit to claim a valuable point against a side expected to finish well up the East Midlands One table this term.

Atherstone forced several short corners in the first period only to be denied by a solid defence and, when required, athletic goalkeeper. And it was Newark who made the breakthrough just before the interval when a defensive lapse left keeper, Michael Pipe hopelessly exposed.

Things looked bleak for Atherstone when Newark's skipper found the net from an improbably tight angle. But they quickly grabbed a lifeline when Antony Hobbs forced a penalty that was confidently converted by Martin Webb.

Five minutes later the Adders short-corner routine finally paid off as Webb was teed up for his second by Danny Brooks.

And although a harsh sin-bin award against Robert Boal signalled a late flurry of pressure, Atherstone held out courtesy of some dogged resistance and one exceptional short-corner save by Pipe.